December 03 / 11.35 Fairyhouse

11.35

Yielding

Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Beginners Chase

  • Prize money: £6445.38
  • 2m 5f 40y
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Beginners Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.60
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 212P-2

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
High-class novice hurdler last season was runner-up at Grade 1 level in that discipline; was pitched into a Grade 2 novice on recent chasing debut and had a hard enough race to be just beaten; raced a bit lazily that day and cheekpieces are added; the one to beat if showing his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Minella Crooner

10st 13lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Once very smart for Gordon Elliott but left that yard on a downer and has continued in similar vein for current team; too risky at the minute.

25/1

11

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Minella Crooner

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Very useful at his best for Gordon Elliott but was pulled up in this race last year and changed hands after a heavy defeat over regulation fences at Punchestown festival; struggled when dropped back to 2m4f for last month's stable debut; 6lb wrong here and has too much to prove.

100/1

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Minella Crooner

12st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sarah Humphrey

His last win was at the Punchestown festival (3m, soft) in May 2024; right out of form in his last three starts (same Punchestown race last time) and this is his first start since leaving Gordon Elliott for £10,000 last May; probably best watched this time.

20/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: /3124-

Last run: 262 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed smart form for Nicky Henderson, winning a bumper and maiden hurdle before running well in defeat in classy novice events at Cheltenham; makes chasing debut for the champion Irish trainer and has the ability to run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

I Am Maximus

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

His only three long-distance events resulted in an Irish National win in 2023, a storming success in this race in 2024 (soft) and a valiant second, from further off the pace, in repeat bid here in 2025 (good to soft); what a record that is, and 50-1 second in a 3m Grade 1 at Leopardstown on penultimate start gives every encouragement that all his ability remains; the return of cheekpieces (tried once in 2022) is interesting but, off 1lb higher than last year, he should be set for another prominent finish.

7/1

5th

8

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

I Am Maximus

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: W P Mullins

Won the 2023 Irish National and a brilliant winner of the 2024 Grand National; gave a terrific display to split his stablemates Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West at Aintree last season; tailed off in the John Durkan on reappearance; spirited display when keeping on for second in the Savills after being hampered at the last; adds substance to the stable's challenge.

10/1

Form: P549-3

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point' winner made an impressive hurdling debut last year when slamming Kilcruit at Cork but wasn't able to repeat that form; however, made a very promising chasing debut at Down Royal on return and, if building upon that, should go close.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Largy Debut

11st 0lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Winning hurdler is 0-11 in chases but has run creditably in defeat; best chase effort a 2.25l second in the 2023 Munster National off 132; struggled in the Thyestes and Leinster National since return from long layoff; this much easier but his best form is on soft-heavy.

15/2

6

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Largy Debut

11st 0lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Winning hurdler is 0-11 in chases but has run creditably in defeat; best chase effort a 2.25l second in the 2023 Munster National off 132; struggled in the Thyestes and Leinster National since return from long layoff; this much easier but his best form is on soft-heavy.

15/2

8th

7

9th Mar 2025

Soft

3m 0f 174y

16:45 Naas

Largy Debut

10st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

0-10 over fences but has run well in defeat, notably when second in the 2023 Munster National; last season's campaign ended prematurely after being brought down in the Troytown; set a tough task in the Thyestes on his comeback; should strip fitter.

16/1

Form: 1852-9 D

Last run: 186 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper and hurdle winner is rated 119 in latter discipline but was below her best when last seen; has a bit to find against some of these rivals on chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Must Be Obeyed

10st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Thomas Gibney

2-23 over fences, those wins gained mid-winter in 2022/23 season; fourth in two handicap runs in recent months; was due to run in the 6.30 here on Friday; not suited by the race conditions.

20/1

3rd

20

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

Must Be Obeyed

10st 12lb

J: Daniel King

T: Thomas Gibney

Back-to-back chase wins two years ago; nothing since then, finished in front of Lightkeeper when fourth at Wexford when last seen (2m3f, good); that was her best run for a while; refused to line up at Punchestown in April, so comes with risks attached.

20/1

4th

6

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

16:25 Wexford

Must Be Obeyed

10st 7lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Thomas Gibney

2-22 over fences; poor form recently and a 10l fourth of eight at Punchestown last month wasn't hugely encouraging; refused to line up at Punchestown in April; a risky profile and others are in better form.

12/1

Form: 314-3F

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Was a heavy ground hurdles winner in France last year; 33/1 and didn't get past the first fence on chasing debut over C&D last time; seems yard's second-string.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

27th Dec 2022

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 160y

12:19 Limerick

Kamus

10st 13lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

chased clear leader, ridden and weakened from 3 out

5/1

5th

8

3rd Dec 2022

Yielding

2m 5f 40y

11:35 Fairyhouse

Kamus

11st 4lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Was a heavy ground hurdles winner in France last year; 33/1 and didn't get past the first fence on chasing debut over C&D last time; seems yard's second-string.

33/1

12

15th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 5f 0y

13:07 Fairyhouse

Kamus

11st 3lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Henry De Bromhead

soon midfield, fell 1st

20/1

Form: 21/4-5

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Smart winning hurdler is rated 130 in that discipline; didn't jump fluently, though still a respectable chasing debut last year and was again not great in that department on recent C&D return; has the ability to go well if sharpening his jumping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

19:40 Cartmel

Coqolino

11st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Kept on well to score here (2m1f, good) on Saturday, getting off the mark over fences at the 20th attempt; has 7lb penalty to shoulder today but the longer trip and likely slower ground will both be in his favour.

9/4

1st

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

19:40 Cartmel

Coqolino

11st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Kept on well to score here (2m1f, good) on Saturday, getting off the mark over fences at the 20th attempt; has 7lb penalty to shoulder today but the longer trip and likely slower ground will both be in his favour.

9/4

4

24th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:08 Cartmel

Coqolino

10st 11lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

0-19 over fences; went close here (2m5f, heavy) last summer and is now 5lb below that mark but his recent efforts have been disappointing and he might find 2m1f on good ground an inadequate stamina test.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0P08P-

Last run: 308 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Poor maiden has been well beaten on his completed chasing starts and it's best to look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

3rd Dec 2022

Yielding

2m 5f 40y

11:35 Fairyhouse

Boston Hill

11st 12lb

J: Conor Brassil

T: Kieran P Egan

Poor maiden has been well beaten on his completed chasing starts and it's best to look elsewhere.

200/1

Form: 62211- C

Last run: 265 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner won twice over hurdles (2m) at Naas last season, including a Grade 3 novice on latter occasion; plenty of chase winners in pedigree and should do well in this discipline but will probably improve from this run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

24th

1

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

15:05 Fairyhouse

Highland Charge

12st 0lb

J: Conor McNamara

T: E McNamara

towards rear

20/1

24th

1

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

15:05 Fairyhouse

Highland Charge

12st 0lb

J: Conor McNamara

T: E McNamara

towards rear

20/1

Non-runners

Highland Charge

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.50
Straight Forecast €3.91
Trifecta €9.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Minella Crooner

RP Ratings (IRE):

Minella Crooner

TOPSPEED:

Minella Crooner

POSTDATA:

Minella Crooner

The Irish Sun:

Minella Crooner